MANSEHRA, Sept 27: People of Torghar district have refused to deposit their arms with police, saying that Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti had announced at the time of announcing change of tribal status of Kala Dhaka into a settled district that local traditions and culture would not be disturbed.

Led by a local elder Mehboob Dad, a group of people told reporters in Oghi on Thursday that carrying arms was a tradition from last many decades and now the police wanted local people to deposit their arms with them.

“The police snatch arms from local people as they traditionally carry these for protection and the government should evolve a policy to avoid it in accordance with the announcement made by the chief minister,” said one Raheem Shah.

The residents recalled that in accordance with the 23-point agreement the chief minister had announced to issue permits and licences of arms which they possessed without any charges and renewal fee.

They said that provincial auqaf minister Nimroz Khan should take up the matter with Mr Hoti to end resentment among people of Torghar over the issue.

They said that if police were not stopped from snatching arms from people they would be left with no other option but to stage a protest rally outside the provincial assembly building in Peshawar.

The tribal status of Kala Dhaka was changed to the settled district of Torghar in early 2011.

RALLY: Transvestites took out a rally here on Thursday against the anti-Islam film made in the US.

Holding banners inscribed with slogans against producer of the film they marched through various roads. The also raised slogans against the US and burnt the effigy of American priest Terry Jones.

Speaking on the occasion, Shemale Association’s president Maria Khan and general secretary Nadra Khan said that the government should expel the US ambassador and cut diplomatic relations with the US.

They also called for awarding severe punishment to all those who played a part in production of the film.